18 PERIOD PRECEDING THE TREATIES. 



Distinction i>e- title to any portion of the North American con- 



tween Bering Sea 



region and Pacific tment is sufficiently disposed of by a remark 



Ocean. 



made by Mr. Middleton, in which he shows that 

 he is merely denying her claims to any portion 

 of the coast east and south of Prince William 

 Sound, or thereabouts. He says, speaking of 

 the early Russian discoveries: "From these dis- 

 coveries Russia derives her rights to that long 

 chain of islands intervening between the western 

 and eastern continents, and even to a very con- 

 siderable portion of the continent of America — 

 rights which have never been contested." 1 



Ukase of 1821. The ukase of 1821, which was a renewed dec- 

 laration of the colonial system already referred 

 to, prohibited to foreign vessels the approach 

 within one hundred miles to the shores of Bering 

 Sea and to a large portion of the Northwest 

 Coast of America bordering on the Pacific Ocean. 

 The objects thereby sought to be accomplished 

 are set forth at pp. 38 to 40 of the Case of the 

 United States. 



character of Much misconception exists in the British Case 



control claimed x 



over Bering Sea. as to t ^ e character of the control which the United 

 States claim was exercised or intended to be ex- 

 ercised by Russia within this limit. The Govern- 

 ment of the United States has already shown, at 

 p. 57 and pp. 295 to 303 of its Case, that it does 



1 Appendix to Case of the United States, Vol. I, p. 13, and Ainerir 

 can State Papers, Foreign Relations, Vol. V., p. 450. 



